What would I say to this 5 years old? How did he do?
Almost exactly half a century later and doin’ alright.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away!

They say fifty is the new forty. Or thirty is the new twenty one. So they say. But sixty isn’t the new anything. It’s just sixty. Something like three quarters of the way through your life. A bit more than that if you’re lucky. It’s staring at me from not too far in the distance. As I type this, it’s 63 weeks away. That’ll come round fast enough I’m sure.

It’s only natural to look back. Back through some of the images and memories of the journey I’ve been on. That I’m still on. How did I get here and where am I going?

Two birthdays – 34 years apart. A young 16 year old and a fighting fit 50 year old – both exactly the same weight.

A cautionary tale or an epic winning adventure? It’s hard to tell

Our revels now are ended. These our actors,

As I foretold you, were all spirits, and

Are melted into air, into thin air:

And like the baseless fabric of this vision,

The cloud-capp’d tow’rs, the gorgeous palaces,

The solemn temples, the great globe itself,

Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,

And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,

Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff

As dreams are made on; and our little life

Is rounded with a sleep.

The Tempest, William Shakespeare
Nine years old. A young boy, almost half a century ago.

And what of this adventure? Has it been a great one? Where has it taken me